Visa: 20% more Greeks traveled abroad in the 9-month period – their top destinations

The number of Greek travelers going abroad increased by nearly 20% during the first nine months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, according to Visa data.

The data also showed that total spending rose by 20% over the same period. The increase in the number of travelers was more pronounced during the summer months (June, July, August), when it exceeded 20%, while total spending increased by 25% in the same timeframe.

Over 80% of spending within Europe

Greek travelers appear to mainly prefer destinations within Europe. According to Visa data, more than 80% of total cross-border spending takes place within the EEA. The five most frequently visited destinations by Greeks are: Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and Turkey.

As for destinations with the highest increase in travelers during the nine-month period (January–September 2025), Egypt recorded an increase of over 80%, while Japan saw an increase of around 70%. These are followed by Albania, the United Arab Emirates, and Slovenia.

Top spending categories

The data showed that the top five spending categories for Greeks were: restaurants, food and groceries, accommodation, clothing and accessories, and retail stores. The top five destinations in terms of spending were: Italy, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Spain.

Spending trends by destination

According to Visa data, differences in consumer behavior are observed among the five leading destinations. In Italy, 20% of total spending is directed toward the “clothing and accessories” category, a share higher than the average of the other countries (12%). In Germany, spending on food and groceries was approximately double the average. In France, consumers spend 3% more than the average on entertainment. Finally, in the United Kingdom, purchases at department stores are 4% higher compared to the average.

Nikos Petrakis, Visa’s Country Manager in Greece, stated:
“Every trip should be simple: one tap of the card, a reliable network, everywhere. As Greeks explore more destinations, we are investing together with banks and merchants to bring modern capabilities—from tokenized checkout to contactless transactions—so that at every point of the journey, payments work seamlessly in the background.”